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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to have had head lice for weeks?

63 replies

mycatisannoying · 18/12/2021 04:17

I'm a mum of four, so have had much experience over the years with treating head lice. My kids are all older now and haven't had them for years ... but I do Sad I work in a primary school.
I don't know if there is a 'super lice' currently on the go, but I cannot shift these at all. I am embarrassed to say that I've had them for weeks or even months.
Hedrin used to always be my 'go to' treatment, and it worked extremely effectively. Not any more. I've been leaving it on overnight (8 hours plus), washing it out in the morning, and by the following day my head and neck feel like a pin cushion Sad It goes without saying that I've had several treatments.
I have also used a nitty gritty comb but have post-Covid hair loss, and the fine combing is wreaking havoc on my hair.
In my years, I have never experienced anything like this. None of my colleagues have mentioned getting them, and it feels like it's just me.
I don't think I'm being reinfected repeatedly. Logistics would suggest not.
This is really getting me down. Does anyone have any advice? I'm in Scotland - not sure if it's a regional issue!
Thanks.

OP posts:
Armychefbethebest · 19/12/2021 01:14

I'd bin off the expensive treatments straight away the super nits are immune get a little bottle of tea tree oil and dilut it and use with your nitty gritty daily and just spray some on in the mornings to when tying your hair back. Hopefully this will break the cycle the holidays will help too xx

Crunchymum · 19/12/2021 01:23

Is it definitely headlice?

Could it be eczema or psoriasis?

Tatapie · 19/12/2021 01:39

Dead head lice don't count as an infestation. I'd be inclined to think it's irritation. My gorgeous hairdresser checked mine over for me after I kept getting them, confirmed there was nothing. Might help to see if anyone can check for any live live or eggs.

Coffeeneedednow · 19/12/2021 02:00

I'm in the same position OP - since October 😱
I thought I'd got rid but alas, I think grey have clne back. Spent a lot on treatments.
Back to blow drying snd straightening with washing and combing daily. I wont have any hair left at this rate!

JoeyJoeyson · 19/12/2021 03:05

OMG SAME!

I have just spent two hours going through DD hair this evening again. Absolutely infested. So many eggs, I was horrified.

I’ve been treating and checking religiously for about two months now and nothing is keeping them away. I’ve given up with OTC remedies now because even after using them I’m combing out live lice so they’re obviously not working.

Just going to keep on every day with the Nitty Gritty comb and loads of conditioner to loosen the eggs and hair straighteners in the hopes they eventually die off.

BookFiend4Life · 19/12/2021 04:25

I have heard mayo works but have never tried it. I know it sounds gross but maybe you could slather it in and then wear a shower cap all weekend?

WotgunShedding · 19/12/2021 04:51

I had this once and straightening my hair every day worked. Was annoying as I’d embraced my curls but it was such an easy, effective way to be rid of the buggers!

Rangoon · 19/12/2021 05:00

I think that nits have evolved and become resistant to the insecticides. Douse your hair in any cheap conditioner, put a plastic showercap on with all your hair inside, after 30-60 minutes start nit combing. Wipe nits off comb after every pass through. Comb every strand from the root. Check bedding - hot wash everything you can, freeze delicate things in a bag in the freezer for a couple of days. If you do the daily combing and clear anything that is reinfecting you you will get rid of them. A bit of flat ironing might help too.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/12/2021 05:43

I always always have awful problems getting rid of mine. I thought the buggers had gone. But recently I have realised I am mistaken. Things which work albeit every single one take a few weeks:

  1. Nitwits but need several applications every 4 days for a few weeks. No other nit treatment works but must leave it to work for an hour to take effect. You can feel the buggers wriggling as they die.

  2. Hair dryer method - dry hair for half an hour at the scalp. Does not have to be fast or very hot. Repeat regularly for a few weeks.

  3. Other heat method: Straightening hair. I use the lowest heat and only pull the straightener down when I feel the heat on the scalp. Repeat regularly for a few weeks.

  4. Salt in shampoo. Put a load of shampoo in a bowl. Add a lot of table salt. Stir. Apply to the hair. Leave for 90 mins covered in a plastic bag. Rinse well. Repeat every 2 days then every 4 days for the the next few weeks. Particularly yuk this one… and although it worked, I’ve since found less messy methods above.

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/12/2021 05:45

You don’t need to freeze and wash everything @Rangoon. Nits can only live 24 hours not attached to a human head. I tried the conditioner method for my hair on myself for a few weeks and it didn’t kill them off. Op has said the same.

Russell19 · 19/12/2021 06:00

@CheshireDing

I have never used a nit shampoo just LOTS of conditioner and the nit comb then hair dryer the hair next to your scalp as one final blast on the suckers

Cheaper, kinder to your hair, smells good, works !

Wonder where you are getting them from though with social distancing !

🤣🤣🤣🤣 she's a primary school teacher, social distancing in schools is not a thing.
Grumpycatsmum · 19/12/2021 06:09

I've had this issue too (also in Scotland so perhaps it is regional??). Mine kept coming back even after the kids had cleared. I'm supersensitive now so can literally feel them when they are tiny.
The only thing that worked was combing every 3 days using the Bugbuster kit. You can order from chc.org. The comb is kind to my hair and because it is coloured you can see the little buggers even when they are tiny specks. You have to keep at it for a good few weeks though.

NoelCanDoOne · 19/12/2021 06:11

Seriously, instead of going to all of the aggro of freezing your pillow cases, boil washing everything and slathering mayonnaise in your hair

Buy a permanent box dye for £5 then colour, blow dry and straighten your hair. That gets rid of them all.

Classicblunder · 19/12/2021 06:12

@Pixiedust1234

Use lots of conditioner, and with a nitcomb comb out small sections starting at the back/underneath every four days. Do everyone the same night even if you think they are clear. Will be gone in under two weeks.
This is what I was going to say. I don't understand why people often talk about hedrin as the only treatment - nitty gritty comb and loads of conditioner is both more effective and kinder to hair
HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 19/12/2021 06:54

Are you still actually finding lice now when you comb? If not then you may be caught in a scratch-itch cycle. The more you scratch the more broken your skin gets which makes it itchy, which makes you scratch, which breaks the skin making you itchy........

Try anti-histamines and be very aware and try to stop yourself from scratching.

Squeezita · 19/12/2021 06:58

Nit Wits is available in Tesco, Superdrug and Amazon, amongst others.

Fuuuuuckit · 19/12/2021 07:24

@CheshireDing

I have never used a nit shampoo just LOTS of conditioner and the nit comb then hair dryer the hair next to your scalp as one final blast on the suckers

Cheaper, kinder to your hair, smells good, works !

Wonder where you are getting them from though with social distancing !

Ha, social distancing in a primary school? Funny...

Is there any chance you have a sympathetic hairdresser? I'm on my own and my hairdresser let me go in with my own towel and equipment, with wet hair, while she went through my hair with the nitty gritty and conditioner. Went twice, job done.

EarringsandLipstick · 19/12/2021 07:48

I find it really hard to believe that you can still have lice after doing all you have described.

I think you've either really irritated the skin, or you have a scalp condition as mentioned by PP.

I would pay someone to properly treat me - where I live there are several people who'll provide specialist treatment, so if you Google it you should find someone.

For everyone using treatments, they are really not recommended and cab often make lice worse. Combing thoroughly and regularly is the key.

TotallyDisco · 19/12/2021 08:02

@Squeezita

Nit Wits is available in Tesco, Superdrug and Amazon, amongst others.
Another vote for NitWits. My daughter got infested just before the first lockdown. We tried Lyclear, Full Marks, Hedrin, Conditioner&Comb but it was only NitWits that finally solved it for us (after months!)

Since then (touch wood) not had another infestation. We use Child’s Farm Grapefruit and Tea Tree detangler spray and occasionally I’ll add drops of tea tree to our shampoo to help keep at bay.

Fingers crossed you can get sorted soon!

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/12/2021 08:10

@EarringsandLipstick

I find it really hard to believe that you can still have lice after doing all you have described.

I think you've either really irritated the skin, or you have a scalp condition as mentioned by PP.

I would pay someone to properly treat me - where I live there are several people who'll provide specialist treatment, so if you Google it you should find someone.

For everyone using treatments, they are really not recommended and cab often make lice worse. Combing thoroughly and regularly is the key.

Op and I have both said we cannot make that method work on ourselves. I did it many times over the course of 3 plus weeks.
talkalarm · 19/12/2021 08:28

There is a company that does professional head lice removal, Google and see if they're near you

I really think in these cases you need someone else to do it for you if possible

EarringsandLipstick · 19/12/2021 08:28

Op and I have both said we cannot make that method work on ourselves. I did it many times over the course of 3 plus weeks.

Hence my advice to go to a professional who can properly break the cycle. I agree, combing oneself is not going to be 100% effective.

chillied · 19/12/2021 08:35

When the going got tough in our household with nits we found Vamousse and that was really effective.

Sickoffamilydrama · 19/12/2021 08:41

It took me months to rid my DDs of head lice once so I feel your pain. They have dark thick curly hair, so thoroughly combing is difficult. The problem is if one egg is left then you are back at square one before you know it. So I did some research and came up with a regime.

Don't use chemical treatment what you need is silicone based ones, Nits can become immune to chemicals but the silicone treatments suffocate them so far I've not meet anything that's immune to suffocation. You do have to put plenty on and give it the 15 minutes to work.

Then treat again after 5 days and again another 5 days later. When it was really bad if I've treat them a fourth time as well.

Then once a week a comb through with a nitty gritty or other head lice comb just in case because I think they got bad because I missed them even though I did visual head lice checks a couple of times a week.

bumblingbovine49 · 19/12/2021 08:44

@DrCoconut

The bug buster kit, followed to the letter, is the only thing I've found to work. I've tried chemicals, nitty gritty, tea tree etc to no avail. With bug buster you condition and comb the hair on set days to break the cycle of reinfestation and the combs just seem more effective than any others.
This is what worked for me in the past. It is time consuming as the combing takes a long time but it did work over a period of time